Emergency draft-coupling



C. C. RICH.

EMERGENCY DRAFT COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11, 1920.

1,857,65 1 1 Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

UNITED STATES CHARLES C. RICH, OF CRANS'ION, RHODE ISLAND.

EMERGENCY DRAFT-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1929.

Application filed May 17, 1920. Serial N0.381,853.

To all to 710m it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLEs C. RICH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cranston, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented new and useful Improvements in Emergency Draft-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in an emergency draft coupling and more especially to improvements on the draft bar construction described and claimed in my Patent No. 1,292,881 granted to me on January 28, 1919.

In my former construction an eflicient emergency coupling was provided for the connection of adjacent cars but in instances where the usual coupling heads are destroyed the emergency coupling is constructed too lightly to withstand the sudden stopping and the backing of the train.

it is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to provide an improved construction for use in conjunction with my former coupling to maintain the cars at their properly spaced relation whereby no injury will occur upon the sudden stopping or backing of the train.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved coupling with the spacer bar shown as connecting two cars depicted in fragment;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the spacer device, per se;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectlon on line 33 of Fig. l, depicting more clearly the mounting of the supporting brace for the spacer bar; and

Fig. 4 is a detailed perspectlve "of the brace.

My prior construction of emergency coupling embodied two draft bars 1 and 2, one of which has a furcated end 3 telescopically receiving the adjacent end of the companion draft bar, registering apertures being provided in the telescoped portions to receive the coupling bolt 4:. The opposite or outer ends of the draft bar elements are oifset below and formed into a semi-circular seat 5 adapted to receive the central plvot'pin common to most freight car constructions. An arcuate gate or closure 6 is pivoted to one end of seat 5 for engaging about the pivot pin of a freight-car, the free end of said gate being detachably bolted to the opposite end of the seat.

The improved construction consists of a ll-shaped brace 7 having a flat base 8 seated on the telescopic joint 3 and formed with depending sides 9 which straddle or embra e said joint to not only strengthen the latter but to also prevent the base and brace from turning on the coupling bolt 4:, the latter passing through the base 8 for securing the same to the emergency draft bar. To the upper ends of the arms of the 'V- brace is bolted, as at 10, a stiff bar 11 having a hunter piece 12 pivoted to each end, said hunter piece consisting of a face plate and side ears which straddle the ends of the bar 4 and are apertured to receive the bolts 13 that connect the hunter pieces to the aforesaid bar.

By this construction and arrangement of parts the two coupled cars are kept at their proper distance apart so that no injury will result if the train is suddenly stopped or it it is necessary to back the cars. The construction is exceedingly simple and is readily taken apartand assembled thereby adapting itself to the kit of the train crew. It is light but durable since the spacer bar 11 sustains practically the entire pressure in suddenly stopping or backing a train, said bar being of a proper size and character to withstand the added pressure. Furthermore, the backlng or stopping strains upon the emergency draft bar are obviated, and the rear car is prevented from riding forwardly relative to the preceding car.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A draft coupling comprising a pair of draft bars, each bar formed at one end to engage a respective car and connected to each other at their opposite ends, a V- shaped brace secured at its base to the joint between the draft bars, said base having clepending sides embracing the joint, a spacer bar secured to the upper ends of the brace, and bunter pieces pivoted to the ends of the spacer bar.

2. A draft coupling comprising a pair of draft bars, each bar formed at one'end to engage a respective car and connected to each other at their opposite ends, a V- shaped brace secured at its base to the joint between the draft bars, said base having depending sides embracing the joint, and a comparatively heavy bar seated on and secured to the upper ends of the brace.

3. An emergency draft coupling comprising a lightly constructed draft bar and a V comparatively stiff" spacer bar connected thereto for interposing between two cars to relieve the draft bar from excessive pressure.

a. An emergency draft coupling comprising a draft bar, a spacer bar designed to be interposed between two cars for maintaining them predeterminedly spaced, and a brace supporting the latter off the former.

5. An emergency draft coupling comprising a draft bar, a spacer bar adapted to be interposed between two cars for maintaining them predeterminedly spaced, a brace interposed between the two bars for supporting the spacer bar above the draft bar, and pivotally' mounted face plates on the ends of the spacer bar for abutting the opposing faces of two cars.

6'. A draft cou 31111 com ar1s1n a air of connected draft bars, a V-shaped brace secured at its base to the joint between the' adapted to be interposed between two carsfor engaging thesame above the draft bars and taking up excessive pressure from the draft bars.

8. A draft coupling comprising a light draft bar connection for coupling two cars and arranged below the car bottoms, and a spacer supported by said connection above the same for directly engaging the cars above the draft connection to relieve the connectionfrom excessive pressure.

9. A draft coupling comprising a pair of connected draft bars, a spacer bar secured thereto for interposition between two cars to hold-them apart, and bunter pieces pivoted to the ends of the spacer bar for bearing against the cars.

In testimony whereof I havesigned my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses- 7 CHARLES C. RICH. Witnesses E. P. 'TooMEY, J. A. MrLLn 

